MASTER SOAP CREATIONS / TRC - LIGHT BLUE (SOUTH AFRICA)
First Look - Following a few weeks of lathering up with woody, leather and intense masculine fragrances, it was time to ease up and opt for a lighter product that’s gentler on the nose and with my favorite colour in the title, I was sure this would be special. Enter Light Blue, a limited edition collaboration between The Razor Company (USA) and Master Soap Creations (South Africa). At first glance, the cover art seemed a bit off to me, abstract and shrouded in blue but a closer look revealed that there was more to the picture than meets the eye. A bespectacled man’s right eye and part of his face adorned the cover and keeping in mind the fact that this was a tribute to Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Pour Homme, for a fleeting moment I wondered whether it was one of the two owners of D&G on the cover. That aside, this cover art held my attention and it did remind me of a Garth Brooks Album cover called. ‘Fresh Horses’ which had the singer’s face reflected in his eye. I’m a mega GB fan and had to throw that in there.
Side note – Fernando Saraiva is the Artisan behind Master Soap creations and his brand though known by few wet shavers before, achieved a hugely popular status due to his collaboration with Yaqi of China. I have quite a collection of Yaqi Soaps and love them all, those soaps were my gateway to MSC and then the collaboration with The Razor Company.
First Whiff – Drawing inspiration from D&G Light Blue Pour Homme, the scent profile is described as a complex opening with Bergamot, sun-drenched Sicilian mandarin, frozen grapefruit peel and aromatic juniper sitting atop a heart of Sichuan pepper and rosewood with American muskwood, incense and oakmoss as the bed. This blend of fragrances is aimed at capturing the energy of the beautiful and sunny Mediterranean sea. On first whiff, I get a strong note of pleasant grapefruit peel and light citrus which can be attributed to the Sicilian mandarin. I did not get any Sichuan pepper but maybe a trace of rosewood. The oakmoss and American muskwood are there but overall I get a grassy, citrusy and aquatic blend on the nose. That goal of capturing the energy of the beautiful and sunny Mediterranean sea, Oh Yeah ! TRC & MSC certainly hit the nail on the head with this one. D&G Light Blue is one of the rare cases where I actually prefer the light version over the EDP or the Intense offering and this soap is an exact dupe.
First Lather – MSC soaps whether vegan or tallow always produce a nice thick lather. Light Blue is supposed to be a few steps ahead with the New Colab Base that includes Stearic Acid, Aqua, Tallow, Castor Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Shea Butter, Coconut Oil, Palm Oil, Fragrance/Essential Oils, Sodium Hydroxide, Cocoa butter, Bentonite Clay, Kaolin Clay, Avocado Oil, Glycerine, Sodium lactate, Xantham Gum, Dpanthenol Baobab Root, Marshmallow root and Thussah Silk. Scooping out a bit of the soap which had a very soft texture, I proceeded to lather with just a little water. I worked my Boti Synthetic G5 Brush in my Timeless TR Bowl for 40 seconds before adding a bit more water for two cycles. This isn’t a thirsty soap at all and it is very easy to build a thick and creamy lather which displays a lovely sheen to it. I was really impressed with the consistency and the look of the lather.
First Performance – MSC Soaps have always been very reliable performers for me and Light Blue marched a few steps ahead of its older relatives. That New Colab Base is top shelf with the cushion, protection and slickness being second to none. My first pass was so good that I wanted to do two more but the lack of stubble prevented me from doing so. I was so enjoying the lather on my face that I took my time with lathering up for both passes. Post shave, as I ran my finger tips on my cheeks I could feel my skin feeling refreshed and smooth as silk and how can I forget that fragrance, this is a feel good scent that lingers for a while on the face after the shave.
First Opinion – I have enjoyed every single MSC shaving soap or after shave splash in the past due to the fact that they leave the skin feeling amazing while making every shave during and post a sheer joy. The Razor Company and MSC have scored a winner with Light Blue and while many brands swing between 4 oz and 5 oz with their pour, MSC goes the whole hog with 170 grams or 6 oz at an affordable price point. This is a soap meant for the summer months or when you just want a shave that is UBER COOL.
Cover Art Work – 8 / 10
Lather Quality – 9 / 10
Fragrance – 9 / 10
Cushion & Protection – 9 / 10
Slickness – 8 / 10
Post Shave Feel – 10 / 10
Value – 10 / 10
Total Point Score – 63 / 70
I've tried a few ZM samples, and been very impressed. This one sparks my curiosity with the combination of rose and oud, which is a favourite of mine with Noble Otter's Two Kings (now discontinued, though tubs are still available here and there). I might even be tempted to forgive the inclusion of patchouli... 
one day
